Bomb dogs boost security at Worcester parade

Monday

Mar 10, 2014 at 6:00 AMMar 10, 2014 at 2:16 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — As people were getting dressed in their green attire to celebrate the Worcester County St. Patrick's Parade, police gathered along the Park Avenue parade route checking cameras and setting up details.

Bomb-detecting dogs from the state police, Environmental Police and Worcester Police Department were stationed with their handlers at the Park Avenue Fire Station. The Worcester dog is Django, and his handler is Sgt. Timothy M. Watts. All the precautions were in place to ensure the safety of spectators at one of the largest events in the city.

Behind the scenes at Police Department headquarters, a cluster of police command officials monitored radio transmissions, checked cameras and watched the parade coverage on television at the Real Time Crime Center.

"After the Boston Marathon bombings we sat down the chief and talked about different things we can use to enhance our presence and security," Capt. Paul B. Saucier said.

Inside the State Liquors parking lot on Park Avenue, a tower reached about 50 feet into the sky. On the top was a camera, allowing police to scan the crowd down toward the fire station and as far as Park Avenue at Pleasant Street.

David W. Clemons, director of Emergency Communications for the city, said the tower is a regional asset from Homeland Security built to help when radio communications go down. But while city officials were discussing parade preparations, someone suggested using it as a camera tower for the parade.

"It was designed as a radio tower, but with a little out-of-the-box thinking we outfitted it with a camera," Mr. Clemons said.

Different city events probably will see the camera tower more, Capt. Saucier said.

All of the video goes back to the Real Time Crime Center station on the third floor of the Police Department. There, command officials can tilt and move the camera to help scour the parade route and position officers to areas of need.

"We will be observing the crowd and if we see anything we can alert officers working the parade," Capt. Saucier said. "Say there is a lost child; we can scan the crowd and assist."

The Police Department was also allowed to tap into Worcester Housing Authority cameras as well during the parade event.

Command officers quickly tapped a few keys on the computer and moved the tower camera along Park Avenue. They could see officers setting up traffic details and vendors starting to set up.

Bomb dogs were added to the security forces at the parade this year, for the first time, after the Boston Marathon bombings just about a year ago. The Police Department got federal funding for its dog and opted for the added security in light of what occurred in Boston.